Left foot feed



Jan. 2, 1934. G. H. SWEET 1,941,516

LEFT FOOT FEED 7 Filed March 13, 1935 Patented .Fan. 2, i934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES 1 Claim.

5 In all automobiles the foot pedal for the gas engine is located on the right-hand side of the car and adjacent to the brake pedal. This arrangement is rather awkward at times, particularly in traflic where the brake is being continuously used, resulting in the moving of the right foot alternately from the brake pedal to the gas feed pedal. In new types of cars a so-called automatic clutch is provided, and consequently the clutch pedal (on the left-hand side of the car) is very seldom used. This leaves the left foot practically free at all times.

It is therefore one of the primary objects of my invention whereby the throttle valve can be manipulated at all times, if so desired, by the left foot, thereby leaving the right foot free for the manipulation of the brake pedal, the driver of v the vehicle being enabled to leave his right foot on the brake pedal for instant use.

Another salient object of my invention is the 5 provision of an attachment for automobiles, which can be readily installed thereon, and which supplements the ordinary throttle valve foot pedal, the attachment permitting the throttle valve to be either manipulated from the right or left hand side of the car, and either by the right or left foot, as may be desired by the operator.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for connecting the left foot throttle valve feeding device with the automobile, so thatthe throttle valve can be operated by the right foot, when so desired, no movement being transmitted to the attachment when the throttle valve is being operated in the ordinary way. i

A still further object of my invention is to provide an attachment for' automobiles of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market and incorporated with an 'automobell crank 15. This bell crank 15 is rockably crank 15 is a push rod 18, which extends through Figure 1 is a fragmentarytop plan view illustrating my invention applied to a conventional automobile.

Figure 2 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,-illustrating the novel connection between the left foot operating means and the usual throttle valve actuating means.

Figure 3 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the engagement of my attachment with a part of the conventional throttle valve actuating means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved attachment, and B an automobile with which the same is associated.

a Only suflicient parts of the automobile havebeen illustrated to permit an understanding of my invention to be had.

As shown, the automobile B comprises the usual footboards 10 located in the rear of the internal combustion engine 11, which is provided with a carburetor 12 of any desired make. The carburetor 12 is providedwith a throttle valve having a manipulating crank 13, to whichis attached the operating rod 14 extending back toward the floorboards 10. In the present instance the rod 14 is connected to one arm of a i mounted at an angle on a suitable stub shaft 16 supported by a bracket 17. This bracket 1'7 is secured to and depends from the floorboards 10.

Connected with the other arm of. the bell the floorboards 10, and this push rod is operatively connected to a foot pedal 19, which may be rockably mounted on the floorboards. As shown, this foot pedal 19 is located on the righthand side of the brake pedal 20, and the clutch pedal 21.

The construction so far described can be considered as illustrative of the usual method for controlling the throttle valve of the internal combustion engine, and it is to be understood that in different makes of automobiles this construction varies within certain limits. In the drawing, I have only illustrated one type of my attachment for the particular .character of throttle control-shown, and my'attachment is- 1 varied so as to agree with and function on different types of throttle controls, and it is to be understood that such variations are within the purview of my invention.

My improved attachment A comprises a rock shaft 25. In the present instance this rock shaft is mounted on the'top of the floorboards in suitable bearings 26. The shaft and its bearings are normally covered by the floorboard mat, and

suitable slots can be cut in the mat for receiving the actuating parts of the device. This rock shaft extends in front of and across the brake pedal and clutch pedal 21, and the-ends of the rock shaft extend'beyond the opposite sides of said pe'dals. The inner end of the rock shaft-terminates adjacent to the push rod 18 and throttle pedal 19, and is provided with a substantially inverted, U-shaped crank 2'7.

One arm 28 of the crank extends through a slot 29 in the floorboards, and the lower. end of the arm 28 is provided with a shoe 30 which rests upon and bears against the upper arm of the bell crank 15.

The opposite or outer end of the rock shaft 'terminates in a crank 31, constituting the operating means for the rock shaft If preferred, a foot pedal 32 can be rockably mounted on the floorboards 10, as at 33, for facilitating the actuation of said crank.

85 .tle valve can be actuated in the ordinary manner from the push rod 18 and foot pedal 19 without disturbing the rock shaft 25 in any way, and thus the engine can be controlled in the ordinary man- When the shaft 25 is rocked in a clockwise direction (see Figure 2 of the drawing) the shoe 30 will be swung downwardly, consequently moving the bell crank 15 and bringing about the actuation of the throttle valve.

My attachment is of a simple nature and operates eifectively on all makes of cars with slight changes therein, and facilitates the easy and safe manipulation of a motor vehicle.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:--

In an automobile including an internal combustion engine having a throttle valveprovided with an operating crank, footboards, clutch and brake pedals extending through said footboards, a bell crank, means operatively connecting one arm of the bell crank to the crank of the throttle valve, a foot pedal located on one side of the brake pedal operatively connected to the other arm of the bell crank, a transversely extending rock shaft having 'a manipulating foot pedal on one end thereof located adjacent to the clutch pedal, and an actuating crank on'the other end I 

